Registered Nurse (RN) Medical Stroke Cardiac WP
Posted Sep 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about a time you noticed subtle changes in a patient's condition that turned out to be significant.
What they are checking: attentiveness to early warning signs and willingness to escalate based on gut instinct plus data
Tell me about a time you had to advocate for a patient when a physician or another team member disagreed with your assessment.
What they are checking: confidence in clinical judgment and ability to communicate concerns up the chain respectfully
Describe a shift where you were short-staffed or things got chaotic. What did you do to keep patients safe?
What they are checking: resilience and prioritization skills under real-world pressure typical of a 28-bed med-surg floor
Tell me about a time you worked closely with a charge nurse, tech, or another RN to get through a tough shift together.
What they are checking: teamwork orientation, since this unit runs on a small night and weekend crew relying on each other
Why are you drawn to a weekend night program specifically, and how do you keep yourself sharp and rested for a Friday through Sunday overnight schedule?
What they are checking: genuine fit with the schedule and self-management skills, since weekend night turnover on this program tends to be high
What would you do
Walk me through how you would prioritize care for four patients at the start of your night shift—one post-stroke patient due for a neuro check, one with new-onset atrial fibrillation, one confused elderly patient trying to get out of bed, and one waiting on discharge paperwork.
What they are checking: whether the candidate can triage competing demands using clinical judgment rather than just task order
How would you approach caring for a 78-year-old patient who is confused at night and trying to pull out lines or get out of bed unassisted?
What they are checking: understanding of fall prevention and de-escalation techniques with geriatric patients
How do you handle a family member who is anxious or upset about a stroke or cardiac patient's prognosis and keeps pressing you for answers you can't give?
What they are checking: communication skills and boundaries when dealing with family stress in a high-acuity unit
You're new to this unit and unsure about a medication dose for a patient with both cardiac and renal issues. It's 3 a.m. and the pharmacist is slow to respond. What do you do?
What they are checking: judgment about when to escalate, use resources, or wait, and honesty about the limits of independent decision-making as a newer nurse
About the work
A patient on your unit shows sudden slurred speech and facial droop at 2 a.m. Walk me through exactly what you do in the first five minutes.
What they are checking: whether the candidate knows the stroke response protocol and can act fast under pressure without hesitation
What do you watch for in a patient with congestive heart failure that would tell you they're heading toward decompensation?
What they are checking: depth of clinical knowledge specific to cardiac med-surg patients
This unit sees a wide range of ages and diagnoses—strokes, seizures, arrhythmias, and general elderly medical patients. What part of that mix feels least familiar to you, and how would you get up to speed?
What they are checking: self-awareness about knowledge gaps and a realistic plan to close them, especially relevant for new grads
What's your process for a full neuro assessment, and how often would you repeat it on a patient recovering from a TIA or stroke?
What they are checking: concrete knowledge of neuro check frequency and technique, not just familiarity with the term
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As published by Advocate Health.